Generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigerators



- GENERATOR-ABSORBER Fon INTERMITTENT ABsoRP'rIoN REFRIGERATORS Feb. 21, 1933.

L. S. -CHADWICK ET AL Filed Dec;

12. 1929 l s sheets-shewd e... mwa

v l I l llllllllllft Fb. 2l, 1933. L. s; vcHADwlcK ET AL Y1,898,616

GENERATOR-ABSORBER FOR INTERMITTENT ABSORPTION REFRIGERATORS Filed Dec.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/os nnnnnnnnnnrlnnnnnnnnn 7 Y A Y Per. 21, 1933.- '1,898,616 GENERATOR-ABSORBER FOR INTERMITTENT ABSORPTIOlREFRIG-ERATORS I v L. s. cHADwlcK ETL A;

vmegared. Fels4v 21, 1933 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFIIE' i ALm: s. cHADwIcx, or'sr'uxnn HEIGHTS VILLAGE. AND-mc REsEx, oF cLEvEnAND vHEIGHTS, OHIO, .ASSIGNORS-TO PERFECTION STOVE .COMPANY-F CLEVELAND,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GENERATOR-mammina non INrEnMrrrEN'r ABsoRP'r'IoN nnFRIGERAroBs Application led December 12, 1929. Serial vNo. 413,456.

This invention relates to an improved generator-absorber for refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption class, and to a method of producing heat abstracting iins/ for, and of applying themto, the generatorabsorber, although, as will be clear from the disclosure herein. contained, so far as the method and its product are concerned, the invention is not necessarily limited to the 3 class of refrigeration apparatus.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a generator-absorber for intermit- I tent absorption refrigeration apparatus that is highly efficient both in the transmission of heat to its contents during the heating-condensing period, and in the dissipation of heat therefrom during the cooling-absorption period; that is equally eii'ective in promoting the re-absorption of the refrigerant gas by the solvent during the latter period; that is relatively simple and inexpensive of manufacture; that is amply strong to withstand the high internal pressures to which it is subjected, and that is comparatively light of Weight.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple and cheap, yet highly eiicient, heat-abstracting iin foruse on'the generatorabsorbers of refrigeration'apparatus, or'on other vessels or containers; and that is particularly convenient of application and attachment to the container or vessel, and that increases the strengthof the vessel.

A further Objectis to rovide a'method whereby heat-abstracting ns may be simply, economically, and expeditiously produced, applied, and secured to vessels or containers.

Other objects and advantages will appear as I proceed to describe the invention'in detail, reference being had to the accompany-` ing drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through our improved generator-absorber; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of.- a refrig. eration apparatus incorporating our irnproved generator-absorber: Figs. 5 and 6 o show, schematically, in side'elevation and plan, respectively, apparatus for performingv the first step of producing the heat abstracting fins Figs. 7 and 8 are s imilar views showing the second step in the method of producing the fins; Fig. 9 illustrates the step of applying the fins to a shell or vessel that will ultimately form a part of the generator-absorber, and Fig. 10 illustrates the step of securing the fins to the shell or vessel.

The generator-absorber, designated genera'tly bythe reference numeral 1, is made up of an upper cylindrical vessel and a lower -cylindrical vessel 2 and 3, respectively. For the purpose of description the .left hand end of the generator-absorber, as viewed in Figs. l 2 and 4, will be considered the front end. The rear, lower portion of thel vessel 2 communicates with the corresponding portion of the vessel 3, through a conduit 4. that depends from the upper vessel and passes through the top wall of the lower vessel and terminates'a short distance above the bottom wall thereof; and the forward, upper portion j of the lower vessel 3 communicates with the adjacent lower portion of the upper vessel 2 through a conduit 5. A deector 6, in the nature of an inverted-trough (see Fig. 3), is

inclined upwardly andrearwardly from the j top of the conduit 5: The rear portion of the deflector 6 is supported from an adjacent portion of the vessel 2 by a bracket 7. Rising' from the top of the vessel, near its rear end, is what we may term a delivery conduit 10, f and entering the lower vessel 3 through the rear wall thereofis a conduit 11, which, by reason of its function may be termed the gas return conduit.' A roof-shaped deector 12 leads forwardly and gradually upwardly from the inner end of the gas return conduit 11 well toward the forward end of the vessel 3, and its forward end is supported from an adjacent part of the Wall of said vessel by a'bracket 13. A draintube 15, whose purpose will presently appear, leads down-f wardly through the .top ofthe vessel 2, adja-f cent the rear end thereof, and through thev conduit 4, the lower 'end of said tube beingv cut on an angle so thatt may rest upon the bottom wall of the vessel 3 without being closed thereby.

Surrounding the vessels 2 and 3 are heat fully appear, these fins collect and transmit heat to the walls and thence tothe contents of the vessels during the so-called heatingcondensing period of a cycle of operation, and during the subsequent cooling-absorption period they serve to carry the heat awayfrom the contents and walls of the vessels. The method of making and applying these fins constitutes an important part of our invention, as we shall presently explain.

In order that the purpose and advantages of 'our invention, as it pertains to the gener ator-absorber, may be better understood, we have shown it diagrammatically in Fig. 4, as embodied in a complete refrigeration apparatus of the intermittent absorption class. T he apparatus includes a cooling unit A, located in the top portion of a refrigeration compartment B4 which, in practice, is enclosed by a suitable insulated cabinet, as will be readily understood, C represents a condenser. A heating device D, which may consist of an oil burning apparatus of approved type, is situated below the generator-absorber 1.

The'cooling unit A consists of two double wall vessels a which constitute evaporators, and the spaces between-the walls of the respective vessels, termed the refrigerant spaces, communicate with each other at the top through a cross tube a and at the bottom through a cross tube a2. Situated above the cooling unit is a receiver E from the bottom of which a column e descends and joins the cross tube a2 at about itsmiddle; The cross tube a communicates with the bottom porvation considerably above that of the recep-` tacle F where it turns and descends through the top wall of said receptacle and terminates therein at a point materially below the plane of the upper end of thepreviously mentioned drain tube 15 that is disposed within said receptacle F, said tube 15 descending through the bottom wall of the receptacle and continuing thence downwardly into the generator-absorber, as above described. A conduit H leads from the top of the receptacle F over and downwardly to where it oins the coil of the condenser C, the lower end of which coil communicates, through a pipe I, with the top of the receiverE.

The beforementioned gas return conduit 11, that enters through the rear wal of the vessel 3, leads from the top of the receiver E. A liquid return tube G has one of its ends disposed within the lower portion of the column e adjacent the junction of the latter with the cross tube .a2 of the cooling unit A, while its adjacent portion passes upwardly tllrough the receiver E and out through the top therel of, the tube continuing upwardly and thence over and downwardly to where its opposite end has communicative connection with the rear of the vessel 3. Communicating with the high part of the liquid return tube is a chamber The system comprising the generator-absorber 1. the receptacle F, the coil of the condenser C. t-he receiver E and the double wall vessels of the cooling unit A, with the tubes, pipes and conduits through which they communicate, is hermetically sealed and contains a suitable refrigerant,`such as ammonia, and anabsorbent therefor, such asv water. in proper proportions. Also, as will be understood. the enclosure surrounding the coil of the condenser C contains a suitable cooling medium, such as water. At the beginning of a cycle of operation all, or substantially all, of the mixture is present in the generatorabsorber, although a certain amount may be present within the cooling unit, the absorbent content thereof having been carried over into the cooling unit during the previous heating-condensing period and remaining there after the cooling-absorption period. This part of the mixture remaining in the cooling unit may therefore be referred to as the residue liquid. The level of such liquid in the cooling unit and the level of the mixture in the other parts of the system at the beginning of a cycle of'operation, is indicated in Fig. 4 by the dotted lines y.

To initiate a cycle of operation` the heating device D is set in action, and the heat rising-therefrom causes the mixture within the generator-absorber to boil. ant vapors pass through the conduit 10 and, bubbling up through the liquid in the recep-- tacle F, continue on through the conduit H to the coil of the condenser. I All, or the greater percentage of absorbent vapors that are carried ofi' with those of the refrigerant are condensed before they reach the highest part of the conduit H and llow back into the receptacle F to join the body of liquid in said receptacle, which, being thus enlarged, overflows through the drain tube 15 back into `the generator-absorber.

The resultand as a result thereof. the mixture in the turn tube J, the gas trapped between the opposed columns of liquid being compressed in the chamber g. Also, said gas, being rich lin refrigerant, -is absorbed to a certain exp tent by the mixture and the residue liquid,

and by a combination of these conditions `the'two columns of liquid are caused to very closely approach each other or actually join so as to e ect a continuous or approximately continuous body of liquid throughout the length of the liquid return. tube, and inasmuch as the branch of said tube which joins the generator-absorber is longer than the other a siphonic action is set up which draws all or practically all of the residue liquid from the cooling unit over into the generatorabsorber thus emptying said unit and preparing it for the subsequent charge of relatively pure anhydrous refrigerant, delivered -thereto as above explained. Here it may be well to point out that the relatively pure anhydrous refrigerant will not'siphon because when it reaches the part of the liquid return tube G that is exposed to the atmospheric temperature it flashes into gas and breaks the Siphon. Therefore the cooling unit will not be robbed of any of its active agent.

By the end of the heating-condensing period the liquid levels in the various parts of the system have changed to those indicated by the dotted lines a in Fig. 4.

The heating-condensing period ceases and the cooling-absorption period begins when the application of heat to the generator-absorber is discontinued, as by the .rendering of the heating device D ineffective. When this occurs the pressure in the system starts to fall and, under the reduced pressure and the iniluence of the temperature of the refrigeration compartment B. the refrigerant in the evaporators or vessels a begins to vaporize and the resultant gas returns through the conduit 11 to the lower vessel 3 of the generator-absorber for re-absorption by the reli atively weak mixture therein. Theiincoming gas tends to iiow alongl the underside of the-deflecto'r12 toward the forward end of the vessel 3 where it rises through the conduit 5 into the upper vessel 2. This creates a circulation of the mixture upwardly through the conduit 5, longitudinally of the lvesselV 1, downwardly throughthe conduit 4 to/the bottom ofthe lower vessel' and thence lengthwise thereof, etc., effecting a thorough intermingling ofthe refrigerant and the absorbent. y .f

The method by which the heat abstracting fins `are"produc,ed, applied and secured to the shells .whereofltlie vessels-of the generatorabsorber-jarelconstructed will vnow be described.-

ducting material, such as steel of the desired grade and thickness, is advanced through a series of forming rolls-indicated at 20, 21, and 22,.in Figs. 5 and 6', which progressively act upon the strip or ribbon to form it. into a channel 16b that is then passed through a sizing die 23. The channel thus formed is .next acted upon by a cylindrical roller 25v (Figs. 7 and 8) and two groove rollers 26 and 27 to impart toit a helical form having an internal diameter approximatel the same as the external diameter of Lthe s ell or vessel to which it is to be applied. The rollers 26 and 27 confine the side flanges of the channel against lateral distortion 'while the web of the channel is being formed to the contour of a cylinder..

As indicated in Fig. 9, the helical channel is next slipped endwise over the shell or vessel designated 30, until its advancing end is near the inner end of thelatter when the assembly is subjected to the action of welding apparatus, illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 10, and consisting of opposed electrodesv 31 and 32, shown as wheels or rollers, that constitute the terminals of an electric circuit represented by the conductors 33 and 34. The outer wheel or roller ,is of a thickness to comfortably enter the channel 16", and the welding process employed is preferably that known as stitch welding, effected by frequent current interruptions. The result, however, is an uninterruptedweld between the channel and the vessel. The convolutions of the helix are properly spaced from one another during the welding operation by suitable gauge means designated 35.

In the construction of the vessels 2 and 3 of the generator-absorber from shells to which the heat abstracting fins'have been-secured, the openings for the various conduits that pass through the vessels are made in the walls of theshells-after such parts of the fins are cut away as would interfere with the operation. `The conduits 4 and 5 are then secured in place in the shells, together vwith the entering portion of the conduit' 11, and the baiiles 6 and 12 are secured to the respective conduits 5' and 1l and are braced from the shells by means of the brackets 7 and 13. The opposed shells which form the opposite ends of the respective vessels 2 and 3 are presented to each other in axial alignment with their open ends abutting and ,theshells are then welded to ether. .In practice there is suilicient space le between the end of each shell and the adjacent end of the channel 16" to enable the shells to be conveniently Welded together, and after the weld has been completed a section of channel is fitted about the equator of the vessel in order to join the opposed helixes and thus render the channel 'member which forms thejheat abstracting fins 16'substantially'continuous from end to end of the vesjsel. It is evident that thechannel members impart' considerable strength to the cylindrical walls of the vessels 2 and 3 and allow lighter metal to be used for` such vessels'than would otherwise be permitted.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus compris ing a structure enclosing an upper chamber and a lower chamber, means through which the top portion of the lower chamber communicates with the bottom portion of the upperchamber, means spaced therefrom through which the lower portion of the upper chamber communicates with the bottom portion of the lower chamber, and means within the upper chamber for directing the iow of liquid from the first mentioned communicating means toward the second mentioned communicating means, the upper chamber having a vapor outlet and the lower chamber a nally of the lower chamber for preventing immediate -rise ofgas issuing from the inlet. 3. A generator-absorber lfor intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising a structure enclosing an upper chamber and a lower chamber, means through which the top portion of the lower chamber communicates with the bottom portion of the upper chamber,l means spaced therefrom through which the lower portion of the upper chamber communicates with the bottom portion of the lower chamber, the upper chamber having a vapor outlet and the lower chamber a gas inlet, and means within the lower chamber for preventing immediate rise of gas issuing from the-inlet and for directing said gas toward the first-mentioned communicating means.

4. A generator-'absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising an upper elongated vessel, a lower elongated vessel, a conduit through .which-the' top portion of one, end of the lower vessel communicates with the lower portion ofy the corresponding end of the'upper vessel, a second conduit through Vwhich the lower portion of the opposite end of the upper vessel communicates with the bottom portion of the corresponding end of the lower vessel, the upper vessel having a vapor outlet and the lower vessel having a gas inlet, and a baille in the upper vessel extending from the upper end of the first-mentioned conduit radually upwardlytoward the opposite eng of said upper vessel. I

5. A generator-absorber for intermittent absorption .refrigeration apparatus comprising an upper elongated vessel, a lower elongated vessel, a conduit through which the top portion of one end of the lower vessel communicates with the bottom portion of the corresponding end of the upper vessel, a second conduit through which the bottom portion of the opposite end of the upper vessel communicates with the bottom portionof the corresponding end of the lower vessel, a gas return conduit entering the last mentioned end of the lower vessel, and a baiile extending from the 4top side of the discharge end of said gas return conduit gradually upwardly therefrom toward the opposite end of said lower vessel, the upper vessel having a vapor outlet.

6. A generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising an upper elongated vessel, a lower elongated vessel, a conduit through which the top portion of one `end of the lower vesselcommunicates with the bottom portion of the corresponding end of the upper vessel, a second Conduit depending from the bottom wall of the opposite end of the upper vessel through the top wall of the lower vessel andterminating adjacent the bottom wall of the latter vessel, and a drain tube extending downwardly through the top wall of the upper vessel and through the second-mentioned conduit and terminating adjacent the bottom thereof, the upper vessel having a vapor outlet andthe lower vessel a gas inlet.

7 A generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising a structure enclosing an upper chamber and a lower chamber, means through which the top portion ofthe lower chamber communicates with the bottom portion of the upper chamber, a conduit spaced from said means and depending from the upperchamber into the lower chamber and terminating adjacent the bottom wall ofthe latter chamber, and a drain tube extending downwardlv through the top wall of the upper chamber and through said conduit'- and terminating adjacent the bottom thereof, the upper chamber l having a vaporoutlet and the lower chamber a gas inlet.

8. A generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising two substantially parallel and horizontal cylinders arranged one above the plane of the l other, the opposite ends of the cylinders communicating, the lower cylinder being completely filled and the upper cylinder partly filled with liquid, and a How directing instrumentality for promoting a circulation of the liquid between the two cylinders.

9. A generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus compris-A ing two substant1ally parallel and horizontal cylinders, one being at a hi her elevation than 5 the other, the opposite ens of the cylinders communicating, the lower cylinder being completely filled and the upper cylinderpartly filled with liquid, a gas inlet entering the lower cylinder, and an instrumentality -for directing the How of gas so as to produce a circulation of the liquid between the two cylinders.

, 10. In combmation, a generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising two substantially parallel i 'and horizontal cylinders, one being at a higher elevation than the other, `the opposite -ends Aof the cylinders communicating, the lower. cylinder being completely filled and the upper cylinder partly'iilledwith liquid, means for applying heat underneath the lower cylinder and reversely inclined bailles, `one in each cylinder, whereby the application of heat 4 produces a circulation of liquid between the two cylinders.

11. In combination, a generator-absorber for intermittent absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising two substantially parallel and horizontal'communicating cylinders, Onebeing at a higher elevation than the other,

the lower cylinder being completely lled and the upper cylinder partly filled with liquid, the rst mentioned cylinder having a gas inlet and the second mentioned cylinder a gas outlet, means for alternately heating and cooling 30 the generator-absorber, and an instrumentality serving to direct the flow of gas so that a circulation of the liquid between the two cylinders takes place during both the heating and cooling periods.

40v `In testimony whereof, we hereupto aiiix our signatures. v 'LEE S. CHADW'ICK.

MARC RESEK. 

